Beach volleyball scoreboard, sets to 21

The official beach volleyball is slightly larger, lighter, and softer than an indoor volleyball. It has a circumference of 66–68 cm (vs. 65–67 cm indoor) and weighs 260–280 grams. The cover is water-resistant with a rougher texture for better grip in outdoor conditions. Mikasa is the official ball supplier for FIVB beach volleyball competitions, with the VLS300 model used at World Championships and Olympics. Wilson (AVX series) and Molten are also major manufacturers of quality beach volleyballs.

The beach volleyball net spans 8.50m (slightly shorter than the indoor 9.50m) and is set at the same height as indoor: 2.43m for men, 2.24m for women. The net and posts must withstand outdoor conditions including wind, making sturdy anchor systems key. Beach volleyball nets use sand anchors or ground stakes rather than the weighted bases used indoors. The net setup includes antennas on each side, extending 80cm above the net to mark the legal crossing zone.

The beach volleyball court measures 16m × 8m — smaller than the indoor court (18m × 9m). The court surface must be clean, level sand at least 40cm deep, with no rocks, shells, or debris that could injure players. At top-level events, sand quality is carefully controlled. The FIVB specifies fine-grain sand that drains well and gives consistent footing. Court lines are made of durable tape or webbing anchored in the sand. The free zone around the court extends at least 3m on all sides (5m at FIVB events).

Sunglasses are key equipment for beach volleyball players, protecting eyes from UV radiation and improving visibility in bright conditions. Elite players typically use sport-specific frames with polarized lenses that reduce glare from sand and water, wrap-around designs for peripheral protection, and secure retention systems. Leading brands include Oakley (Radar and Jawbreaker models), Smith, and Bollé, all offering lenses optimized for outdoor sport performance.

Beach volleyball apparel handles maximum mobility and heat management on hot sand courts. Players typically wear shorts and tank tops or sports bras, with technical performance fabrics offering UV protection, moisture wicking, and sand resistance. The FIVB relaxed its dress code rules in 2012, allowing athletes to choose attire appropriate for weather conditions and personal preference. Compression gear, hats, and visors are also common. Equipment brands like Mikasa, Spalding, and various sportswear manufacturers produce beach-specific volleyball apparel.

Beach volleyball traces its roots to the beaches of Santa Monica, California, in the 1920s. Families and beachgoers began playing volleyball on the sand as a recreational activity, adapting the indoor game they knew from YMCA gymnasiums. By the 1930s, the first organized 2-on-2 matches were being played on Santa Monica's beaches, establishing the format that would define the sport. The game spread along the California coast during the 1940s and 1950s, becoming a fixture of Southern California beach culture.

The first known beach volleyball tournament took place in 1947 at State Beach in California, organized by the Santa Monica Recreation Department. These early competitions were informal affairs. No prize money, no uniforms, just competitive athletes playing on public beaches. However, they established the competitive foundation that would eventually transform beach volleyball from a leisure activity into a paid top-flight sport with its own identity, distinct from the indoor game.

Beach volleyball began its transformation from casual recreation to a paid top-flight sport in the 1960s and 1970s, driven by a growing competitive scene in Southern California. The first significant prize money tournament was held in 1976 at State Beach, California, offering $5,000 in total purse. The Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) was founded in 1983, creating the first organized paid beach volleyball tour in the world.

Legendary players like Sinjin Smith, Randy Stoklos, and Karch Kiraly (who had already won two Olympic gold medals in indoor volleyball) became the sport's first stars, attracting sponsors and media coverage. The AVP tour grew rapidly through the 1980s, bringing beach volleyball to mainstream audiences and establishing it as a paid top-flight sport with structured seasons, ranking systems, and increasing prize money.

Beach volleyball's inclusion in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games was a watershed moment for the sport. Both men's and women's tournaments were held, with Karch Kiraly and Kent Steffes winning gold for the United States in the men's competition, and Jackie Silva and Sandra Pires of Brazil taking the women's title. The Olympic stage introduced beach volleyball to a global audience of billions, immediately elevating its status from a niche Californian sport to a worldwide athletic discipline.

The Atlanta tournament established beach volleyball as one of the most popular events at the Summer Olympics. The combination of athletic excellence, dramatic rallies, and the beach atmosphere created a spectator experience unlike any other Olympic sport. Since 1996, beach volleyball has been a fixture of every Summer Games, consistently drawing large crowds and high television ratings.

The 21st century has seen beach volleyball expand far beyond its California roots into a truly global sport. The FIVB established the Beach Volleyball World Tour (now the Beach Pro Tour) as the top international competition circuit, hosting events across six continents in locations from Doha to Vienna to Cancún. The tour features Elite16, Challenge, and Futures tiers, providing a structured pathway for players from developing beach volleyball nations to compete at the highest level.

The sport has seen dominant duos emerge from Brazil (Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos), the United States (Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings, who won three consecutive Olympic gold medals in 2004, 2008, and 2012), and Norway (Anders Mol and Christian Sørum, Olympic champions in 2021). Prize money has grown substantially, gender pay parity has been achieved at FIVB events, and the sport's accessibility, requiring only a net, a ball, and sand, continues to drive participation growth worldwide.